Monalisa Moyo – Nottingham Train Station Shoot.

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This was the only shoot we managed to do this month, but it was one I had longed to do. We got special permission from the boss of Nottingham Train Station to use a part of his station away from all the trains So thanks to him and to Shadrine who popped along to do the makeup for both models. Monalisa Moyo was first up with a short set and looking great in the very expensive 'Ballet Boots' I purchased from Amazon. Monalisa complained that they were impossible to stand up in and you can get a sense of that from the pictures. Yet they make for an interesting shoot. Monalisa was joined by a lovely model I had never worked with named Fern Thompson who came a distance for this shoot and I was very grateful for her being there.

Together they worked well. I hope you like the set?


Monalisa Moyo and Fern Thompson – Nottingham Train Station Shoot.

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Both melanin lovelys together on set. Thank you for Shadrine from Kavour for her makeup and Amy for helping with the lighting.

Fern Thompson – Nottingham Train Station Shoot

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Fern was great to work with and a true professional. Pregnant at the time of shooting, she turned up on time and was great. We did have an accident with the ballet boots when the heels dropped of, but that was more to do with the cheep and nasty way they were made than to Ferns moves on set. Like Monalisa, she found it near impossible to stand up let alone walk in them, but they make a great picture.

So thanks to Fern for all her hard work and hope to see you again in the New Year.


*NEW* Project – 'Lujon Fressonique'

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So I have started a new project that will be a mixture of flowers and fashion together

I was inspired by a great photographer on Instagram called Andrew Turner ( check out his page on Instagram at @andrewtuner_art ) who had made his own lens out of cannibalising an old Kodak Box Brownie camera, a body cap and some sticky tape. He very generously helped me create my own , the lens is essentially a pin hole lens at its crudest but can make some interesting blurred images. I then researched a French way of developing in old chemicals a style that is called Fresson. The family in Paris keep it a tightly guarded secret just how they do it, but after a few attempts I found a way to give a similar look in Photoshop, Yes its not quiet the same but its a start. I took some pictures of a few flowers that are all heavy on harsh shadows which can be seen here as well as plan to shoot fashion images using the lens and technique at my October shoot in Derby.

So I would like to say a big thanks to photographer Andrew Turner and Amy for helping make the lens. I know they images might not be to everyone's taste, but I hope you enjoy them.

September Flower Updates

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We have a bumper month of flowers this month as along with the regular fresh bunch of lovely flora from the Brambles Florist. We also have some others that I photographed from months before and saved as extras that I am now cashing in. As always it was great to see my friend Chris at the shop and catch up with him, as well as get something new to shoot. Check out the Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours online for a great selection of product that is environmentally friendly and pure quality. So thank you to Chris and staff and Amy for helping me on the day.


August Updates

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Welcome back to the Lujon Rael Portfolio blog. I hope you are all safe and in good health.

Let me start this month of with some birthday mentions. Firstly a happy birthday to my wife Amy who is still a young looking fifty something. Luv ya' x A happy birthday also to both Monalisa Moyo and Tyler Dyce who are both 29 respectively. Have a great day each ladies … dont get too hammered !

We haven't been going far this month as the weather has been so very warm, and I do not do well in the sweltering heat. Still Amy and I did manage to do a shoot at The Boardroom Studio with a new model to me. The lovely Supple Suki.

On a more sombre note, my vision is diminishing further, with my right eye now that gives me site like I am looking through the bottom of a dirty milk bottle. But you learn to live with it, and make the best of the hand God has dealt me. It still does not stop me from taking photographs, it is just that reading has become more of a challenge.

Looking forward to September we have a two model photo shoot on location in Nottingham Train Station. The shoot features my old friend Monalisa Moyo and a new model to me from Manchester Fern Thompson. So looking forward to that.

Thank you then to all involved with this months output and hope you enjoy the blog x


Supple Suki – Fashion Shoot

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This last month we had the great pleasure of working with a new model to me who goes by the name 'Supple Suki' and she is everything it says on the tin. She normally teaches acrobatic pole dancing and can get into any position you choose, within limits. She was also great fun to be with.

Suki contacted me through a website regarding a posting of work that I put up, but was a little bit too late. Still she impressed me enough to follow her up and give her a shoot on her own.

Thanks then to all involved. To Suki for modelling. To Phil Lynam at the Boardroom Studio in Derby. To Shadrine at Kavour Beauty for her hair and makeup and to Amy for all her help and food stuff.

Come the new year, I hope to shoot again with this flexible and charming model.


Commercial – Update

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A very lovely friend of mine Krystal has started her own online skin care company called 'Krystal & Meli.' Its a new venture and finding its own feet, but the product is second to none and for me equally fun to photograph. Why not check them out at their website www.krystalandmeli.com

Here are a spotlight on a few of the commercial images I took for them in my home studio.

Good luck ladies x.

August Flower Updates

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We have a good mixture of flowers on offer this month, including a shabby chic gerbera from the Brambles Florist. A flower from Tyler Dyce for Amy's birthday I could not pass on photographing and even a plastic one for good measures. See if you can spot it?

As always our biggest thanks go out to our friends at Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours. Chris, Gail and Nina who never cease to come up with new flowers at there best. Thanks to then and to Amy for her help.

That is it for this month, be sure to come back again in September x

July Updates

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Welcome back to this months (late) blog update.

Its been a slow month this month, with only one shoot under my belt, but then in parts this month has been too hot to do anything. I am old enough to remember the legendary, sweltering Summer of 1976 and that seemed to go on forever. I also keep telling myself that it was the Summer of 'Jaws' at the cinema and Queens 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was top of the charts. And all of which is wrong … that was infact the previous year in 1975 !. Oh well, whats in a year ! Dates, times and events distort and fade as you grow older.

Well done to the England Women's Football team for thrashing the Germans. Its a sad shame that our Prime minister Boris Johnson couldn't bring himself away from crying in his saucer of milk to drop down to Trafalgar Square and personally thank them for their victory. He only live around the corner from them ?

Enough politics …. Enjoy this months offering. x

Zoe Birtwhistle Fashion Shoot – Before Long

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The largest part of this months shoot material is being used on another site, but here are a few head and shoulders shots I took of fashion model Zoe Birtwhistle. The head piece she is wearing that looks like a Radio Active sign, was made by hand for this shoot by Zoe herself. It was brilliant, I am eternally in her debt for going to such lengths to create something so original for this shoot.

The pictures as usual were taken in the amazing Boardroom Studio in Derby, with thanks to Phil Lynam for its use and his help. So also a special thanks also to Amy for helping me on the day and providing food. A warm thanks obviously to Zoe, you were brilliant.

July Flower Updates

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We got some great images of the flowers this month, with one flower that looks more like it came out of a coral reef than anything that grows in a garden. Chris at the florist did tell me what it was called, but I sadly I cannot recall the name. In fact I have photographed it separately from various angles, because I can see it coming in use with a Digital Art picture I have in mind. So thanks then as always to Chris and Gail at Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours for their great help and suggestions. Thanks also to Amy for helping me take the pictures.

That's it for this month, be sure to come back in late august for a new crop of floral pics.

June Updates

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Thank you for dropping by my little corner of the web again.

It has been quite a busy month this month with a fashion shoot from Monalisa Moyo, a visit to my parents and shooting flowers in a couple of gardens. As well as the usual beautiful flowers provided by Brambles Florist and Flowers To Yours.

This month I tried my hand at a bit of filming. Now I must point out that I know sweet F.A. About video, but it seems that that is a way to go and I wanted to give it a try with a 'Short' Behind the scenes video. It took a bit of working out and the results wont make Steven Spielberg sit up and think his days are numbered, but it was a first stab at it and I shall do more. Talking of future shoots I have a shoot coming up in July at the Boardroom Studio in Derby with a new model to me where we will be trying to do stuff in the style of French photographer Sarah Moon. Don miss that next month.

Enjoy the blog …..

Monalisa Moyo – Location Shoot 2

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This month was time again to work with my muse, good friend and fashion model Monalisa Moyo.

This time we went on another location shoot to Pleasley Vale with a very raw look and a dress hand made by Amy. I have attempted to give some of the pictures a very African location feel about them and I hope we all pulled it off. Monalisa came along with her lovely friend Sim who helped along with the shoot. So a thank you all around for Monalisa, Sim and Amy for her help and clothing design.